Heraeus' Modern Materials Division Celebrates 65th Anniversary

SOUTH BEND, Ind., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Modern Materials Division of Heraeus Kulzer, LLC, the worldwide
leader in dental esthetics, is celebrating its 65th
anniversary. The division has been the leader in the U.S.
dental market for gypsum products for virtually its entire
existence.

Modern Materials was founded in 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri by
Don McNary and Jack Piper. Mr. McNary, a chemist, was "Mr.
Inside" while Mr. Piper, the consummate salesman, was "Mr.
Outside." Early in the company's history, Mr. McNary
developed a formula for manufacturing gypsum that no competitor has
yet been able to match. One of the keys to this unique formula was
the company's discovery of a source of pristine calcium sulfate,
gypsum's primary component, in Oklahoma. A second key was the
company's extremely tight control over the process by which the
calcium sulfate is crushed, heated and dehydrated to form a fine,
dry powder of unsurpassed consistency. Yet another hallmark
of Modern Materials' distinctive approach was Mr. McNary's
pioneering development of special chemical formulas that allowed
customers to achieve different setting times and create different
colors.

Mr. McNary's formulating brilliance was matched only by Mr.
Piper's charismatic salesmanship. According to sales
executive Joe O'Weger, a 35-year veteran of the company, "The way
Jack would demonstrate our product superiority to a prospective
customer was simply mesmerizing. He was selling a promise, and he
knew that our products would keep that promise and exceed the
customer's expectations." The tall, statesman-like Mr. Piper
was known as one of nicest people in the business. "Jack was a
terrific team-builder," said O'Weger. "He was a true gentleman and
a class act, and his people would do anything for him and his
company."